Threadless nut and bolt.



PATENTED JULY 18, 1905. H. J. WEISS. THREADLE APPLIOATIO SS NUT ANDBOLT.

/ @nueufoz wgcmnm M 7/wi Patented July 18, 1905.

HENRY J. WEISS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

THREADLESS NUT AND BOLT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,242, dated July 18,1905,

Application filed August 26, 1904:. Serial No. 222,282.

To bi Z whom, it flea/y concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J .Wniss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama,have invented new and useful Improvements in Threadless Nuts and Bolts,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in nuts and bolts, particularlythough not exclusively designed for use in connection withrailway-joints.

it is the object of my invention to dispense with the usual threaded nutand bolt by providing as an improvement thereon a bolt having a splitend each section of which has an internal shoulder. The nut has aflaring central opening through which the end of the bolt is passed,after which a locking-wedge is inserted between the split ends of thebolt, being so constructed that as it is driven in it not only spreadsthe bolt so as to prevent the disengagement of the nut therefrom, butalso acts as a wedge between the shouldered end of the bolt and the nutto force the latter more tightly against the fish-plate. The wedge ispreferably formed of an integral metal strip thickest near its centralportion, from which it tapers both in thickness and width to each end.This strip is doubled on itself, leaving its ends slightly sprung apartand one projecting beyond the other. This spring character of the wedgemakes it less sensitive to jarring and jolting; but to secure it againstdisplacement 1 preferably provide a channel across the top of the nut,in which the wedge seats and around an outer edge of which theprojecting end of the wedge is bent or turned. in this manner 1 providea simple and secure means for both locking and tightening the nut on thebolt, for it is only necessary to drive the wedge farther in between thenut and bolt and give its locking end a stroke with a hammer or tool tolock it in its new position,when the nut will have been tightened.

By reference to the accompanying drawings the details of construction ofmy present invention will be found illustrated in their preferred form.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bolt. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the nut and bolt assembled and locked in positionby the wedge. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2. Fig. i is a top plan viewof Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the nut. Figs. 6 and 7 are sideand top views of the lockingwedge.

Similar reference-numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

The bolt 1,which is without screw-threads,

has the usual head 2 and is provided at its other end with a transverseslot 3. This slot, which may be formed by stamping, casting, or in anydesired manner, splits the end of the bolt, leaving two undercutsections 4:, which have shoulders 5 that normally abut and overhang theslot, being squared off on their under sides. The slot preferably tapersfrom the shoulders 5 to the point of convergence of the end sections.

The nut 6, which may be of any desired external construction, has asmooth internal bore which tapers or flares slightly, and preferably inan oval shape, from the base of the nut, where it is smallest. After thebolt has been passed through the fish-plates or other bodies to beunited this nut is slipped over its split end. To secure the nut on thebolt and lock it securely against displacement, I provide the lockingand tightenil'ig key 7, formed of a strip of metal bent on itself andtapering from the bend both in longitudinal thickness and width, as willbe seen more clearly in Figs. 6 and 7. To make a closer lit in the slot,the key may also be slightly wedgeshaped in cross-section; but this isnot essential. The side parts of the key are sprung slightly apartnormally, and one end 8 projects beyond the other end. This key isinserted into slot 3, its edge toward the nut resting in a trans versechannel or groove 9 across the top of the latter, while its upper edgeengages the overhanging shoulders 5. As it is forced in its increasingthickness will spread the end sections 4 apart until they fill out theflaring bore of the nut to take all shearing strain off the key andcause it to be assumed by the bolt itself. At the same time it will bewedging between the shoulders 5 and the nut, forcing the latter againstthe fish-plate. When the nut is sufficiently tight, the end 8 of the keywill be bent around the edge 10 of the groove 9 in the nut to preventthe key jarring out of place and unlocking the nut. Any suitableinstrumerit may be used to bend the end 8, preferably such a one as mayalso be used to straighten out the end 8, so that the key may be knockedout when it is desired to remove the nut.

To tighten the nut, it is only necessary to drive the key in farther andthen bend end 8 again or force it around edge 10 until it serves to lockthe key in this latter position.

The groove in the nut is not essential to my device, as the key could bebent around the bolt, if desired, and other modifications may be made inthe details of construction without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, an unthreaded bolthavingadivided end provided with an overhanging part, an unthread ed nutadapted to fit over said end, and a key adapted to be inserted betweenthe sections of the divided bolt end to spread the same and having atapering portion disposed between the nut and the overhanging part ofthe bolt for tightening the former, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of anunthreaded bolt, a transverse slot th rough an end thereof forming twoundercut end portions, a nut having a tapering bore, and a tapering key,wed ge-sha md in the direction of its length, for spreading the slottedend of said bolt and tightening said nut.

3. in a device of the character described, the combination of anunthreaded nut, a split belt, a key tapering in longitudinal widthandthickness which is adapted to be inserted transversely between thesplit ends of said bolt,

and a portion of said bolt, between which and said nut the said key isinterposed, and adapted, by engaging said portion, to act as anadjustable tightener for said nut.

t. In a device of the character described, an unthreaded bolt split atone end and transversely slotted, a nut adapted to slip over said splitend of the bolt, and means to lock and tighten said nut on theboltcomprising a key tapering in longitudinal width and thickness,adapted to spread the bolt and tighten the nut by being forced into saidslot.

5. In a device of the character described, an unthreaded bolt split atone end by a transverse slot, a nut transversely grooved on its outerface, a split key, tapering in longitudinal thickness which, wheninserted in said. slot in the bolt, spreads the split ends thereof andvrests in the groove in the nut, said key having a flexible end adaptedto lock it in place by being bent around an edge of said groove in thenut.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a boltformed without threads and having an undercut shoulder at or near oneend, an unthreaded nut to he slipped over said end and provided with atransverse groove in one of its faces, and a wedge-key tapering inlongitudinal width and adapted to be interposed between said shoulderand nut, and to have its tapering portion forced against said shoulderto tighten said nut, said key having a flexible end adapted to lock itin place by being bent around an edge of'the groove in said nut.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

H ENRY J. \VEISS; \Vi tn esses:

It. I). Jonns'roN, H. M. lilon'roN.

